Christine Wonica

I am absolutely delighted to join the Notre Dame Academy staff as the Physical Education teacher.

Sports, exercise and physical fitness are all extremely important contributors to a healthy lifestyle. They help promote strong, healthy minds and bodies. Participating in healthy competition, taking on challenges and overcoming obstacles early in life help prepare our young ladies for some of the challenges life will bring. Physical Education plays a big part in helping to develop confidence and healthy habits in students. I utilize physical activities that focus on personal achievement, teamwork and goal setting in each of my lessons to develop these skills and strengths in students.

Sports and physical activity have been a big part of my life since I was a young girl. The lessons I have personally learned through the years have contributed to my success as a competitor, coach, and teacher, and I strive to bring these valuable lessons into the gymnasium. My love of sports started with softball when I began playing for Mid-Island Little League when I was seven. I developed as a pitcher and brought my skills to the Catholic School League on Staten as I attended St. John Villa Academy High School. In my junior and senior years, I registered 26 wins and only two losses, had over one strikeout an inning, an ERA under 1.0, and was instrumental in my team’s four championships during my senior year. I was a two year Staten Island Advance All-Star, a two year New York Daily News All-Star, and a two year New York Newsday All-Star. I was also the l992 recipient of the Al Smith Cup which is given out every year to the most outstanding softball player on Staten Island. I continued my career playing Division 1 softball for Long Island University Brooklyn on a full athletic scholarship and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Sports Medicine from Long Island University.

Prior to joining the staff at Notre Dame Academy, I taught Physical Education at St. John Villa Academy Elementary School for four years where I was the head coach for the JV Softball Team and pitching coach for the Varsity Softball Team.

Prior to my time at Villa, I was the Lead Scheduler at LISN Communications and an Athletic Trainer with Healthsouth in NYC and have been active in various capacities with the Staten Island Saints Fastpitch Softball organization for over seven years.

I am a leukemia and bone marrow transplant survivor.  To raise awareness for and support the cause, I am a committee member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night walk and team captain of their team ‘Angels for Christine’. This June, I was very honored to be recognized as an outstanding educator by Senator Lanza as a part of his Teacher Recognition Program. I look forward to sharing my teaching and coaching experience with the young ladies of Notre Dame Academy.